Once school was over the girls decided spend some quality time together at Sugarcube Corner. There they all discussed their plans for the summer, Applejack and her family were gonna visit her cousin Bradburn in Appleloosa for a three day hoedown, Rarity was gonna be taking a fashion trip to Manehatten with Sweetie Belle and her new fashion friends Sassy Saddles and Coco Pommel, Fluttershy was gonna be volunteering at the local zoo with her Sandalwood and his cousin Treehugger, mentored by the veteran keeper there named Zecora, Rainbow was planning on seeing Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone live with Scootaloo and her Soccer and Basketball co-captains Spitfire and Soarin, and as for Pinkie Pie she was going to hold a big block party with her family and neighbors that would last for two whole days.
All in all Sunset's friends all had there own plans with their other friends and/or families and while she to had her own family she had promised her mother not to say anything about them to anyone including her friends. But it was no secret that they all new Sunset would be competing in the surfing contest coming up the following week but in order to actually compete she need an adult to partner with and she just may have found one.
"So did you find a partner or what?!" Rainbow asked beating her hands on the table in anticipation.
"Indeed darling, you simply must tell us who you managed find to be your partner, is it someone we know?" Rarity asked sipping her tea.
"Are they a good surfer?" Applejack added, drinking her cider.
"are they a nice person?" Fluttershy inquired slurping her smoothie.
"The suspense is killing us here Sunny, we need all the details! TELL US! TELL US!! TELL US!!!" Pinkie shouted shaking Sunset. Sunset chuckled at her friend's excited curiosity and knew she and the others would like some answers so once she finally stopped Pinkie's shaking she answered,
"Hehe, okay girls, okay I'll tell you." Sunset relented, putting her hands up in surrender as the girls gave her their full attention, "Well to start off my partner is a women, she is really nice and to top it all off she is one of the best surfers in the whole city!" She said with some bubbling excitement.
"Oooh!" The girls said with interest.
"I know felt the same when I found that this woman of all people was that good of surfer." Sunset went on as she was honestly surprised by what her mother could do. But she figured it be better to not mention any names to avoid the girls catching on to her true relationship with Celestia. But some were smarter than that.
"You keep saying 'woman' or 'she' darling, it almost seems you trying to avoid saying this woman name." Rarity noted causing Sunset to stiffen slightly, knowing she was caught. "Aren't you going tell who this talented woman is?"
"Yeah Baconhead, who is it?" Rainbow said stifling a laugh when Sunset glared at her, ever since the fall formal the girls took the chance to call her by that nickname since they say the resemblance between her hair and a certain food. Sunset had said multiple times not to be called that but the girls refused to stop, however right now she had to focus on how she was gonna get out of this situation she found herself in with her surfing partner's name because if she had told them it would open a whole other can of worms she rather keep close.
Sunset thought for a moment before coming up with something, "Well she is someone we all know but she asked to keep quiet about until the competition comes, she felt it be more fun if we surprised you."
"Ooh, ooh, ooh! That sounds wonderful! I love surprises!" Pinkie cheered bouncing up. The girls all laughed at their hyper friend's behavior.
"Trust me, once you see us at the competition you'll all be in for a shock." Sunset promised.
After a little more time talking the girls agreed it was time for them all to return to home. But before they left Sunset's friends turned to her, "Hey Sunset you gonna make it home okay?" Applejack asked in concerned.
"Do you want one was to see if our parent can drive you home?" Fluttershy offered.
"Or would you rather bunk at one of our places?" Rainbow added.
"I'm sure we can convince our parents to let you stay with each of us for the week." Rarity assured as Pinkie nodded in agreement
Sunset smiled sadly knowing she couldn't tell these truly generous friends the truth but was still touched by the offer. This wasn't the first time they made this offer either, every now and then, especially with a big storm coming the girls would offer to let her stay at one of there places or have one of their parents see her home just to make sure she safe. Even if they didn't know she wasn't homeless, (at least not anymore) it didn't stop them from being concerned about her living conditions. All she could tell them was that she had a decent roof over head and enough food to last her. She stilled hoped she could tell her friends truth someday. she really hated lying to her friends and making them worry, 'Maybe I should ask mom if I can at least tell the girls the truth.' Sunset wondered.
"Thanks girls but don't worry, I'm sleeping somewhere safe and if anything does go wrong I'll give you a call first chance I get." Sunset said, as her friends glanced at each other, they had already heard this response before but decided not question it trusting their friends word.
"Well then, I guess I'll see you gals around," Applejack eventually said before she gave Sunset a small smile, "And ya'll can bet your jacket that we're comin' that contest yer' entering next week."
"That goes double for me!" Rainbow smirked, pumping a fist.
"And me as well." Rarity agreed placing a hand on her chest.
"Yes, indeedily," Pinkie chimed in, rocking her toes and heels.
"Mmhmm." Fluttershy nodded her head with her angelic smile.
Sunset smiled in appreciation at her friends, "Thanks girls, nice to know I'll have my own cheering section during the competition." She then turned and walked away while waving to her friends, "See ya, girls! Have a good Summer!"
"Bye Sunset!" They all said unison and started making there own way back to their home. As Sunset walked she almost forgotten that her mother said that she might be able to join the contest, but she trusted her that she would definitely not disappoint her.
'Mom's been nothing but supportive to me since taking me in, of course she compete with me,' She thought to herself as she walked home with a confidence look on her face. Then as she looked up to see the moon strangely enough in the daylit sky she suddenly remembered, 'Oh my gosh! Aunt Luna! I hope mom is gonna go easy on her after she told me she was a surfer.'
Meanwhile
"Tia Please! it was an accident-OUCH!" Luna said before her left cheek was slapped with the strength of a very rudely awakened tiger.
Once school was out the two head educators of CHS had return home. They're house seem to be welcoming enough if it weren't for the fact it looked more like a mansion than a ordinary house. The two sister of course could afford it since they're family could be traced back to royalty which was surprising and not so surprising to Sunset when she joined their family. What really surprised her were that both Celestia and Luna were named after their royal ancestors which made Sunset questions if that Celestia and Luna were the real counterparts of the Equestrian Celestia and Luna but she decided to look into that later.
Once they got home however Celestia almost immediately decided chew Luna out for spiting out unwanted information to her daughter. "Ugh! No concept of respecting a sister's wishes!" Celestia scolded slapping her cheek again before hitting her right cheek with her back hand, "No respect for other's personal bad history!"
"OW! I'm Sorry, OK?! I swear, I didn't mean tell! it just slipped out!" Luna explained bowing her head while she rubbed her sore cheeks. She had to admit, her sister had a really strong arm.
"Well you couldn't just told about any other surfer who could be her partner?!" Celestia Retorted before she groaned turned her. Once Luna had rubbed out the pain in her cheek she looked at her sister who had her arms crossed and her back towards her. While she still felt guilty about spilling the beans a part of her felt it wasn't completely a bad thing, "Well, sister if you really think about it, this surfing competition may be just what you need." Luna said with smile thought slightly wincing as her still sore cheeks stretched out.
Celestia then rounded on her sister with her confused and irritated expression, "Excuse me?"
Luna moved towards her and gestured with her hands, "I mean come on. You were one of-if not the-best surfers in city. People practically called you "The Grand Queen of the Waves!""
"And then they started calling me the "The Falling Queen of the Wipeouts"."" Celestia grumbled, placing her hand her hips.
Luna merely scoffed and waved her hand, "Pah, that was just hater being hatful, but this could be your chance to prove them wrong and shred those waves like paper!" She declared tightening her fist with wicked grin on her face
"Or I might just make and even bigger fool of myself and embarrass my daughter in front of almost the whole city." Celestia retorted causing Luna's grinning face to turning a frowning one. "Incase you forgotten my time off the board may caused my skills to go more dull than they were before."
"The contest is just a week a way you can practice with Sunset to prepare for it," Luna reasoned and placed a finger on Celestia lip to prevent her from saying what she knew she was gonna say, "And if your after work is concerning you then don't let it I can handle it myself." She turned her back to Celestia with her eyes closed and with a confident grin on her face.
The elder sister raised her brow and smirked, "Like how I was sick and you said you'd handle the last CHS Bake sale by yourself so well." Luna's eye snapped opened and her cheeks burned purple as one of the most embarrassing memory of her life came flooding back to her. She turned to her sister glaring, and said.
"That was your daughter's fault you know it!"
"Well I know I can thank Sunset that her plan of sending me the perfect picture to cheer me up on a sick day worked like a charm." Celestia smirked and then held up her phone showing said picture which was of a fuming Luna covered in custard, pie bread and mashed up fruits with Sunset winking with a peace hand gesture. Needless to say the day after that event CHS would have the most agonizing work filled day ever for Sunset if Celestia hadn't returned and let them go scot free much to Luna's dissatisfaction.
Luna just shook her head, knowing that her sister was trying to get them off topic, "My point still stands Tia, I can handle your work while you practice with Sunset."
Celestia frowned again and walked away, "No, I'm not."
"What?!" Luna gaped before sprinting infront of her sister and said, "But-but you promised Sunset you-"
"I said that if my schedule was clear I might be able to compete with Sunset." Celestia clarified and began walking out of the living room again, "but as you know it's not so I can't. So this is not a contest Sunset will be able to compete in."
Luna's shock turned into anger as she couldn't believe her sister was so selfish that she was going to break her daughter's heart and her dreams just to spare her own feelings and stomped towards Celestia and grabbed her shoulder, spinning around, "So what?! Your gonna lie to your daughter and break your promise to support her through whatever she wanted in life?!"
Celestia gritted her teeth and glared back her little sister as the two didn't realize they were a few feet away from the front door, "I'm not lying to her and I'm not break my Promise! I'll still allow her to surf and she's free to enter a contest where she can compete alone."
"And how long will that be, you think?!" Luna argued as a shadowy figure was seen behind the door window.
"I don't know but do know, that it won't be this one!" Celestia shot back as the door became unlocked.
"TIA! You KNOW that this contest is important to Sunset! if you care AT ALL about her you WILL Compete in this surfing contest." Luna remarked as the door swung open but neither of them noticed.
"And why for goodness's sake would I waste MY time and energy on some DUMB, HOOLIGAN's WATER SPORT TOURNAMENT?!?" Celestia screamed getting right in Luna face.
"W-what?"
The two sister broke their glares and their eyes shrunk with shock and horror as they heard a familiar voice filled with sorrow and betrayal. Though Luna could've sworn Celestia already white skin looked like a different shade of white for a minute. The two bit their lips as they turned to see the hurt expression of Sunset Shimmer, her back flopped on the ground and her arms just hanging by her sides. Tears were trickling down her face as she obviously heard what Celestia had said. Sunset turned her face to look at her mom who seemed afraid for a second.
"M-mom you-you don't, want to compete with me? You think this contest is j-just a h-hooligan's water sp-sport's Tournament?" She stammered tearfully. "W-why, I thought you, you would,"
Celestia hesitantly walked as Sunset struggled to get her words out as the girl hugged herself, "Sunset I-I said I might be able to compete with you and unfortunately I can't."
She then made a nervous smile, "B-but it's not the end of the world, I sure another surfing competition will come up eventually, one where I don't have to compete with you." Celestia than slapped her hands over mouth as Sunset's eye widened with more hurt than ever. Celestia started waving her arms, "N-n-no! Wait that's not what I-" Luna facepalmed knowing this conversation was doomed to fall.
Sunset's closed her eye in sorrow as her tears flowed down her cheeks, "I should've known, the other Celestia never cared about what I wanted" She then sent a hateful glare at her mother as the woman shrunk back, "Why would you be any different!" She yelled and ran passed her mother and aunty and towards the stairs.
"Sunset, WAIT!" Celestia called reaching out to her.
"JUST SPARE ME YOUR LIES MRS. CELESTIA!!!" Sunset screamed in anguish as she ran up the stairs and slammed the door to her room. A jagged knife jabbed right into Celestia heart when she felt those word come out of her precious girl's mouth.
She had called her "Mrs. Celestia", Not "mom".
It meant she now saw her just as her principal. Not her mother. She fell to her knees as she realized that this whole situation was her fault she knew how much it meant to Sunset to participate in the surfing contest mostly because she could enter it with her but she had no intention of honoring her request because of her selfish desires, "What have I done?" She whimpered softly, gripping the sides of her head and shaking it as her own tear began to fall, "What have I done? What have I done?!" She repeated getting louder and her shaking got more violent before she her head rose up and she yelled, "WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?" She then buried her face in her hands as she sobbed loudly while mumbling apologies to Sunset feeling immensely guilty and ashamed of herself for breaking her promise and her daughter's heart.
As she continued to sob she suddenly felt a gentle hand grip her shoulder. She turned to see Luna looking just as saddened. She than hugged her poor older sister as Celestia cried hard into her shoulder. Luna also had a lot to feel guilty about too, she shouldn't have blabbed Celestia's secret to Sunset and she should've realized that the incident had left a deeper scar on Celestia then it seemed. Once Celestia had drained out all her tears Luna spoke up, "I'm sorry, Tia. If I had just kept my mouth shut none of this would've happened."
"No Luna, this is my fault," Luna mouth opened in surprise, Celestia looked up at her with red, puffy eyes, "I shouldn't have been so selfish, I should've just faced my fears and just stuck with my daughter through her practice or at the very at least told her the reason behind my reluctance, if only I told her about that day."
Luna then stood herself and her sister up, "well then why don't you." Celestia looked at her confusion, "It's true that you made a mistake by not telling her the truth, but right now you have the chance to fully explain yourself to our dear Sunset while you still have the chance. And if your still worried that she'll see you differently then don't, you are still the same woman she's come to love, the woman who took her in when no one else did."
Celestia stared at Luna for a few moment before she turned to stair way that led to Sunset's room. Celestia's face turned serious as she knew in heart that it was time for her to be honest with daughter, "Your right Luna, I've withheld the truth from Sunset long enough. She deserves to know the truth." She then wiped her eyes and marched the stairs towards her little girl's room.
Luna crossed her arms and smiled in pride at her sister, glad to see she had finally decided to open up to Sunset, she only hoped that this will lead her sister to once again become the surfing legend she once was, "I think things are going to get better from here on."
Meanwhile
Sunset's room was a bright orange, she had closet filled with plenty of clothes, on the walls there photos of her with her friends, and her mom & aunt during school events or just having fun at sleepovers, at the park or at the mall. On the wall next to the window was her guitar and her amplifier. Her bed had white pillows, a yellow blanket and redwood bed frame with fiery haired girl was busy, crying her eyes out.
She couldn't believe it. She just couldn't believe it. Her mother, the woman that took her in and loved her like no one else had and had promised to alway stand beside her and what she wants peruse in life no matter what no matter what, had just insulted the competition she wanted to partake in after practically saying she had no desire to compete with her.
"Why? Why?" Sunset sobbed out, she didn't understand, Celestia had always been supported to her goals in life, had promised to help in anyway she could but what just happened downstairs had stomped on everything she had promised to her. Looking back on it, Celestia did seem a little reluctant to agree to compete with Sunset but she still didn't know why she-
*CREEK*
Sunset's head sprung up in surprise and turned to the sound of the door opening. There standing at the door was her mother looking at her with guilt and nervousness. Sunset's surprised then turned into anger as she crossed her arm and turned her back to her mother, "What do you want?" She said crudely not wanting to talk to Celestia at the moment.
Celestia flinched, feeling the anger and distrust in Sunset's voice, though she had long since left her inner evil behind she never realized how forceful Sunset's mean voice was. But she took a breath and just walked over to the bed then she sat down with her legs dangling off the ledge. Sunset still had her back turned but that didn't dissuade Celestia as she replied, "Sunset, I just wanted to talk you about why I didn't-"
"Wanna waste your time and energy, on a 'dumb, hooligan's water sport tournament'?" Sunset interrupted her, making air quotes and glaring at the woman. Celestia flinched again, knowing what she said hurt Sunset a lot more than she realized.
"Well, yes I did say that but the only reason I was so against it was because," Celestia trailed off, as she struggled to say.
"What you think your too good to compete with a rookie like me?" Sunset whipped her head around and glared angrily at her mother as she darted her eyes around.
"No! Nononono! it has nothing to do with you it because, because," Celestia stammered as she could get what she wanted say out.
"What is it mom!? What could possibly make you break your promise to me and not want to compete in this Surfing contest?!" Sunset shouted finally fed up of not getting answers.
"BECAUSE I WAS SCARED!!!" Celestia immediately shouted out at last, and hanged her head down in shame as Sunset stared at her in surprise. "Wha? Scared?"
"That's why I didn't want participate. Because I was scared of falling off my board and into the sea. Again." She continued, saying the last part with some fear. Sunset just arched her brow in confusion, not fully understanding what her mom was saying. Seeing this Celestia continued, "When I young I loved surfing more than any other sport in the world, every weekend during the summer my parents would take me to the beach to just ride the waves and have fun," Celestia smiled nostalgically, remembering when she actually had surfing, "As the years went by I became one of, if not THE best surfer in the city, competing all kinda of surfing events and contests and each time I brought home the gold. Soon people gave me my title of "The Solar Surfer"."
"Whoa." Sunset said amazement, her anger towards her mother had disappear instantly as it was replaced by wonderment by Celestia's surfing feats. But then she saw her smile turn into a sorrowful frown.
"Until that one terrible day, during a contest in Manhatten one surfer had shown tricks I never thought were possible and for once in my life I was afraid I might actually lose, so I came up with the hair brain Idea to change my performance at the last minute." Celestia then hugged herself and started slightly trembling as her most hated part of the story was coming up.
Sunset bit her lip, almost afraid to ask this, "W-what happen?"
Celestia took a breath and continued, "I started off good but then my performance was beginning to lose it's usual shine and so I decided to do my best move "The Sideways Sun Spin" but then when I was airborne the unthinkable happened: I, slipped off my board." Celestia whimpered out trying to hold back a sob and her trembling increased . "The next thing that happened was I landed on a leg on my board causing me to break it so I almost drowned if one of the surfers hadn't saved me. " she heard Sunset give a horrified gasp.
"After I was discharged from the hospital I began to hear people talking about me and snickering behind my for a few days about the surfing contest, s-so I decide to do some i-invastigating about and then I d-discovered," Celestia started letting out some sobs as she recalled what she had seen, "The people I thought, I thought h-had respected and, and loved my t-talent and had supported had st-started posting trash talk about me!"
"'Knew she wipe out someday.', 'The sun is bound to fall', 'a regular diving diva', 'this is just the beginning of her end' all kinds of hatful words and even videos that turned me from a surfing super star into an, an absolute joke! what was worse was that they were right, every time I competed in surf contest or just did surfing I just kept flashing back to that moment, whipped out and the hatful spew just kept coming! It was horribbblllleeee!!!" Celestia finally sobbed burying her face in hands as she remembered one of the most horrible times of her life.
Sunset stared in shock and covered her mouth, she never imagined her mother suffered such humiliation. Now she understood why she was so reluctant to join her in the Surfing contest, because she was afraid that she fall off her board again and once again embarrass not only herself but also her infront of all Canterlot. She then realized that by asking her to compete with her she brought back unwanted memories to her of when society made a mockery of her, She the scooched over to her and gave her the warmest hug she could give, "M-mom I'm so sorry I didn't kn-"
"No." Celestia interrupted her as Sunset saw her mother eyes bloodshot from the crying, "Please don't apologize. You didn't know anything about this, I should've told you the truth sooner. Anyways after the next few days I decided to hang up my surfboard and just quit surfing and focused on my teaching career, with Luna's and some other friends of mine's help I was able push through the slander and after a while it had finally died down but not before I decided to...end things with my boyfriend." She said the last part with some regret, knowing that was one of the hardest choices she made
"Oof, that must've been rough." Sunset commented, remembering even she dated Flash just to be more popular they're break up was still hit her pretty hard.
"It was but I knew it was the right decision for him, since I didn't want my embarrassing situation cause him any trouble. " Celestia continued before turning Sunset and brushed some of her hair behind her ear, "Which was partially the reason I didn't want to join you, I didn't want to embarrass you infront of the whole city."
Sunset gave a small smile, "Mom I don't care if you slip off your board in the contest and I don't care if win or not, the only reason I wanted to compete with you was because it was one event where I thought we could both have a real mother and daughter special moment." She then looked down and gave small but sad smile, "But if you rather not compete in the contest then, it's fine. I'll just convince my friends that I couldn't compete."
Celestia stared at the girl she had adopted but felt like her own flesh and blood for what felt like eternity. She had just sacrificed something she was so looking forward to just to spare her feelings, "But, but I thought you loved-"
"I do love surfing mom but if there's one thing I love more than that it's you." Sunset interrupted her looking with shimmering eyes.
Celestia gave a watery smile and then pull Sunset into big and warm hug, nuzzling her hair with her cheek and inhaling her honeycomb shampoo. She had never understand how she deserved such a beautiful and sweet girl like Sunset.
"I love you too my Little Sunflower." She said, her voice filled with affection, "Thank you for caring about my feelings sweetheart but I don't want you dropping out of the contest yet." Sunset pulled her head out Celestia's chest and gave a confused look.
"After this talk we've had I'm beginning to have second thought about quitting surfing but I'm still a little conflicted about" Celestia then ended the hug and stood up. She then walked to the door and turned to her daugther, "I'm just going for a walk, when I come back I'll give you my answer."
"And I promise to respect that decision." Sunset promised.
Celestia smiled, "Thank you sweetheart, see you later." With that she walked out the room. Sunset just sat there in silence as she recalled all she was told. She never realized that her mom went through such a hard time in her youth. Almost like she did after the Fall Formal when everyone hated and despised her but the girls had stuck by her and helped her proved them wrong. She only wished she could go back in time and give her mom the same support.
She then turned to her bedside table and saw next to the lamp was her journal. She then reached for it and ran her hand over the cover. This book was one of the few reminders of her mother's counterpart. While she no longer hated the Princess for not being the mother she wanted her to be to her, she did preferred the Human Celestia over the Princess mostly because she was much more open and wasn't afraid to show her emotions while the Princess always kept her true feelings behind a stoic mask and had kept things on professional level. She also wondered if Princess Celestia had gone through a similar humiliating experience that her human counterpart did but she shook her head and decide to reach for her pen, turn to a blank page. and wrote, "Hey Twilight, you have a minute."
"So how did it go?" Luna asked as Celestia walked by her. She had respected her sister and niece's privacy and had decided to stay downstairs, not wanting to get slapped in the face again.
"It was. Interesting, to say the least, but it went pretty well honestly." Celestia answered as she put on her shoes, "I just need to mull over some things in my head for a while. I know this might be asking much but could you?"
Luna waved her hand, to reassure her big Sister, "Don't worry Tia, I'll keep your little girl's hand out the cookie jar."
Celestia giggled and opened the door, "Thank you, Lulu."
Luna frowned and crossed her arms, "You know I don't like it when you call me that."
Celestia just gave her a smirk while walking out the door, "Hm, why do you think I do?" and before she could get an answer she closed the door and began to wander the streets.
As Celestia walked through the city of Canterlot for the next few minutes she was complimenting all that she and Sunset talked about, Sunset had encouraged her to try once again to ride the waves as the Solar Surfer of Canterlot had respected her insecurities about surfing and that she was okay with wait until another chance to compete in a competition would come around. But Celestia also knew how much this contest meant to Sunset and it would make her daughter so happy to engage in a sport she was actually good at and have an actual family bonding moment with her. 'I won't deny that having a special moment like that with Sunset would be wonderful.' Celestia thought, she started thinking that maybe the time had come for her to face her fears and get back on the board. But could she really risk riding the waves again, even without her biggest supporter being there? She then felt very guilty as she looked down and remembered the Sunset was not the first person she had hurt because of her selfishness and cowardice. If there was one thing she wished she could take back after her big fall, it was to never break up with-
"Oof!"
"Ooh!"
Celestia then crashed into someone while she wasn't looking and they caught her before she landed on her rear and then pull her into their chest. Celestia's Eyes shrunk to the size of peas and her mouth went dry instantly as she was familiar with this kind of clothing and the warm muscles it concealed and the firm and gentle hands holding her securely.
'It-it can be.' She thought and slowly looked up and looking down at her was a light grey-skinned man with a wild Black and blue-striped hair that went all the way down his neck and his amazing emerald green eyes looking down at her in shock before it turned into a happy one, "Well, well. Tia, it's been a while hasn't it?" He said in a warm and broad voice that sent tingles up and down Celestia's spine. She couldn't believe it. after all this time, here they were again. Just her and him. She finally managed to stammer out.
"S-S-S-Sombra?"